Tooth-brush.



PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

NOQ 867,063,

o. o. LILLIE. TooTHRUsH. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18,1905.

s mw ORVILLE (l. `LILLlll, OF (JONNllAlji, OIlIO.

TOOTH-BRUSH.

VNo. 867,062.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application and september 18j isos. serial No. 278,871

To all whom t't may concern:

Be it known that I, OnvILLn C. LILLIE, a citizen of of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and us'eul Improvement in Tooth-Brushes, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the ini ventio'n being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle so as to distinguish it from other inventions. f

My invention relates to improvements in toothbrushes, and especially to that class of such devices known as rotary tooth-brushes, by the use of which the bristles of the brush, instead of being moved back and forth along the rows of teeth, are drawn along the line of'the individual teeth and the crevices between them.

The annexed drawing and the following description setforth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of varioils mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved rotary tooth-brush, a portion of the handle being broken away to reveal the mechanism for operating the brush; and Fig. 2 represents' an aiiial longitudinal section of the brush, with certain parts, however, shown in elevation. y

The essential elements entering into my improved tooth-brush are a handle A, a spindle Binou'nted within such handle and projecting beyond it at lone end, and a rotary brush C secured to such projecting spindle-portion. Associated with the handle is suitable mochanf ism for rotating such spindle B and attached brush C.

The handle A, as shown, comprises two tubular members a and a', the one within the other, respectively fitting over and within end-rings A and A2, and secured thereto. Detachably secured to end ring A/ is a sleeve a2 bearing a semi-cylindrical shell a3 that extends along one side of rotary brush O to form a guard by which the mouth and cheeksare shielded from the`brngh when being rotated in use. Attached in a similar manner to the other end-ring, A2, is a sleeve a* bearing arring a5 which both allows the handle A to be more firmly rotaining in the hand by forming asort of thumb rcst, and affords a means by which the brush can be readily hung up. Handle members a, a/ are further each provided with two oppositely disposed longitudinal slots a, a7 respectively; slot a registering with slot a as clearly shown in the figures. Y

Within inner handle member a, as has been already indicatedz lies the brush-bearing spindle l5. To assure the easy rotation of this spindle it is mounted in bal1- bearings. At the one end' the balls b are held between a lsuitably faced flange b formed on spindle B`, anda groove b`l formed in end ring A. At the other end a ball race is provided by means of a similar groove b2 f Yformed in end-ring A2 and a cone-faced nut b3 screwthe United States, and a resident of Conneant, county f threaded on to the end of spindle i3 and held against loosening by a set screw b4 which serves as a lock-nut.

A square screw-thread bi extends along the entire length of that portion ol the spindle B which lies within liandle A. The portion b of the spindle that extends beyond the handle is reduced in diameter to receive the brush; While the manner of attaching the brush to th'e spindle is immaterial, it should be such that when one brush is worn out it can be readily replaced with a new one.

Slidably mounted upon handle A is a sleeve D, such sleeve being held against rotation thereon by means of inwardly extending lugs orteats d which register in the before described longitudinal slots a, aT in handle members a, a/. The inner ends of these teats are adaptmember a', and lies between outer end-ri ng A2 and lugs i d of the sleeve. Outwardly projecting ears or finger pieces d are attached to sleeve D whereby it can be moved to compress the 'spring S'.

Having thus described the construction of mymproved rotary toothbrush, its manner of operation is readily indicated. The brush is retained in the hand by passing the thumb through ring a5 and extending two of the ,opposed-fingers preferably the index and middle linger on opposite sides of the handle A so as to rest against ears d. Normally-the sleeve D with these ears d is held by spring S in the position shown in both figures, i. c. adjacent to end-ring A. Upon bringing thumb and fingers together the sleeve will be moved up against the other end ring A2, ,simultaneously effecting the rotation of spindle B by virtue of the engagement of teats d with screw-thread b5 on such spindle in the manner already set forth. As is obvious the spring S is at the same time compressed so that immediately upon relieving the pressure on ears d, which is done without'withdrawing the fingers therefrom, the sleeve D is returned', under impulso of the expanding spring, to theother end oi the handle. This movement produces rotation of the spindle B as before, the direction of rotation being reversed however. While the brush C thus being rapidly rotated, it may be applied to all parts of the teeth by properly directing handle 'A within the mouth, guard a3 at the Sametime protecting therows ot' bristle tufts longer than the intermediate ones sn as te Conform more perfectly with the irregular line presented by the teeth.

Haring thun4 described my .invention in detail, that which .l particularly point out and distinctly claimisz- 1. ln a rotary tooth brush, the combination of a handle comprising; two tubular members, one within the other; n threaded spindle mounted in the` inner tubular membe;- and adapted to receive and aetuate a rotary brush; a manually operable member slid-ably mounted in said handle and engaging said threaded spindle; and a spring disposed intermediatety et said tubular members and adapted to normally ntmiliou .said slidable member,

L'. In u rotary tootli'brush, the combination ot' a lutnflle conipriwing, two tubular members, one within the other,

joined nt their ends und provided with registering longitudinal slots: a spindle muunted in the inner tubnlnr member und prerided with a rotary brlwh at one end, sueli y pindle l' lng t'ut'ther provided with u sere\\'thread; a sleeve mounted on the enter tubular member and bearing.; out\\'ardly1)rbjeetinl.; tiuger-nieeel and tents projeetin;r inwardly through saidy y Iets into engagement with said scre\\'thread; and a pir-.il spring surrounding said inner tubular member and lying, between said tents and an abutment at one end-of said handle.

Signed by me, this 12th day ot September" 11MB.

()RVILLE C. LlliLll-l, 

